With this book, we aim to capture different perspectives of researchers on nonlinear optics and optical devices and we intend to cover the latest developments in optics from theoretical, numerical, and experimental aspects. The eleven selected chapters cover a variety of topics related to nonlinear optics including bright, dark, kink solitary waves in various media, magnetic solitons, lattice solitons, rogue-waves, solid-state lasers, laser cladding, optical sensors, optical vortices, and molecular switches. The book is intended to draw the attention of scientists in academia, as well as researchers and engineers in industry, since the field has a significant potential for the production and design of novel optical devices and other technological applications.

New possibilities have recently emerged for producing optical beams with complex and intricate structures, and for the non-contact optical manipulation of matter. Structured Light and Its Applications fully describes the electromagnetic theory, optical properties, methods and applications associated with this new technology. Detailed discussions are given of unique beam characteristics, such as optical vortices and other wavefront structures, the associated phase properties and photonic aspects, along with applications ranging from cold atom manipulation to optically driven micromachines. Features include: Comprehensive and authoritative treatments of the latest research in this area of nanophotonics, written by the leading researchers Accounts of numerous microfluidics, nanofabrication, quantum informatics and optical manipulation applications Coverage that fully spans the subject area, from fundamental theory and simulations to experimental methods and results Graduate students and established researchers in academia, national laboratories and industry will find this book an invaluable guide to the latest technologies in this rapidly developing field. Comprehensive and definitive source of the latest research in nanotechnology written by the leading people in the field From theory to applications - all is presented in detail Editor is Chair of the SPIE Nanotechnology Technical Group and is leading the way in generation and manipulation of complex beams

The field of nonlinear optics developed gradually with the invention of lasers. After the discovery of second-harmonic generation in quartz, many other interesting nonlinear optical processes were rapidly discovered. Simultaneously theoretical programmes for the understanding of nonlinear optical phenomena were stimulated in accordance to develop structure-property relationships. In the beginning, research advances were made on inorganic ferroelectric materials followed by semiconductors. In the 1970's, the importance of organic materials was realised because of their nonlinear optical responses, fast optical response, high laser damage thresholds, architectural flexibility, and ease of fabrication. At present materials can be classified into three categories - inorganic ferroelectrics, semiconductors, and organic materials. Advances have also been made in quantum chemistry approaches to investigate nonlinear optical susceptibilities and in the development of novel nonlinear optical devices. Generally, inorganic and organic nonlinear optical materials and their related optical processes are reported in separate meetings. This book collects for the first time papers covering the recent developments and areas of present research in the field of nonlinear optical materials.

Structured Light for Optical Communication highlights principles and applications in the rapidly evolving field of structured light in wide-ranging contexts, from classical forms of communication to new frontiers of quantum communication. Besides the basic principles and applications, the book covers the background of structured light in its most common forms, as well as state-of-the-art developments. Structured light has been hailed as affording outstanding prospects for the realization of high bandwidth communication, enhanced tools for more highly secure cryptography, and exciting opportunities for providing a reliable platform for quantum computing.This book is a valuable resource for graduate students and other active researchers, as well as others who may be interested in learning about this cutting-edge research field. - Broadly covers the use of structured light in communication applications - Highlights quantum and photonics principles, emerging and future applications - Assesses the major challenges of using structured light for communication applications

This book starts with the description of polarization in classical optics, including also a chapter on crystal optics, which is necessary to understand the use of nonlinear crystals. In addition, spatially non-uniform polarization states are introduced and described. Further, the role of polarization in nonlinear optics is discussed. The final chapters are devoted to the description and applications of polarization in quantum optics and quantum technologies.

Light and light based technologies have played an important role in transforming our lives via scientific contributions spanned over thousands of years. In this book we present a vast collection of articles on various aspects of light and its applications in the contemporary world at a popular or semi-popular level. These articles are written by the world authorities in their respective fields. This is therefore a rare volume where the world experts have come together to present the developments in this most important field of science in an almost pedagogical manner. This volume covers five aspects related to light. The first presents two articles, one on the history of the nature of light, and the other on the scientific achievements of Ibn-Haitham (Alhazen), who is broadly considered the father of modern optics. These are then followed by an article on ultrafast phenomena and the invisible world. The third part includes papers on specific sources of light, the discoveries of which have revolutionized optical technologies in our lifetime. They discuss the nature and the characteristics of lasers, Solid-state lighting based on the Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, and finally modern electron optics and its relationship to the Muslim golden age in science. The book’s fourth part discusses various applications of optics and light in today's world, including biophotonics, art, optical communication, nanotechnology, the eye as an optical instrument, remote sensing, and optics in medicine. In turn, the last part focuses on quantum optics, a modern field that grew out of the interaction of light and matter. Topics addressed include atom optics, slow, stored and stationary light, optical tests of the foundation of physics, quantum mechanical properties of light fields carrying orbital angular momentum, quantum communication, and Wave-Particle dualism in action.

Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics merges two long-running serials--Advances in Electronics and Electron Physics and Advances in Optical and Electron Microscopy. This series features extended articles on the physics of electron devices (especially semiconductor devices), particle optics at high and low energies, microlithography, image science and digital image processing, electromagnetic wave propagation, electron microscopy, and the computing methods used in all these domains. - Contributions from leading international scholars and industry experts - Discusses hot topic areas and presents current and future research trends - Invaluable reference and guide for physicists, engineers and mathematicians

The optical trapping of colloidal matter is an unequalled field of technology for enabling precise handling of particles on microscopic scales, solely by the force of light. Although the basic concept of optical tweezers, which are based on a single laser beam, has matured and found a vast number of exciting applications, in particular in the life sciences, there are strong demands for more sophisticated approaches. This thesis gives an introductory overview of existing optical micromanipulation techniques and reviews the state-of-the-art of the emerging field of structured light fields and their applications in optical trapping, micromanipulation, and organisation. The author presents established, and introduces novel concepts for the holographic and non-holographic shaping of a light field. A special emphasis of the work is the demonstration of advanced applications of the thus created structured light fields in optical micromanipulation, utilising various geometries and unconventional light propagation properties. While most of the concepts developed are demonstrated with artificial microscopic reference particles, the work concludes with a comprehensive demonstration of optical control and alignment of bacterial cells, and hierarchical supramolecular organisation utilising dedicated nanocontainer particles.